Torpedoes Swim Club

Torpedoes Swim Club News and information about former swimmers of the Torpedoes club, which operated from 2011-2015. Soon after, afternoon training was added.

Prior to 2011, AISHK had never been successful in competitive swimming, finishing no closer than 8th in the ISSFHK schools championships. The volunteer-run Torpedoes swimming club evolved out of a need to support and develop a competitive swimming program at AISHK. This intervention was highly successful, as AISHK improved rapidly to become ISSFHK Junior Champions in 2013 & 2014, Overall Champion

School at the HKSSF Secondary Schools K2D3 Championships 2014, Revolution Asia Open Water Series Primary & Secondary Schools Champions 2014, ESF Aquathon Champions 2015, and AISA Champions 2014 & 2015. In 2014, at the AISHK Primary and Secondary School Swimming Carnivals, 56 school records were broken! The club initially expanded from Sunday afternoon club races to conducting a morning training squad before school. This was hugely and immediately popular, with most mornings quickly booked out with a waiting list to get in. The squad trained every public holiday, and during term breaks. The club's pioneering Open Water program introduced many kids to ocean swimming, resulting in great success in this format of competition, both locally and internationally. From a core membership of about 30 kids, over 4 years (2011-2015), the Torpedoes swimming club developed a host of outstanding state, national and international level swimmers. 14 of them went on to achieve Australian National Age Championship qualifying times in the pool or Open Water, including 3 HK Champions (Temana Short 9x, and Bill Thorley 4x, Anneekah Styles), 4 state champions (Andy Pich, Felicity Buchmaier, Sam & Bill Thorley), 3 State relay gold medalists (Brendan Hee, George Zhu, Nick Godbille), 3 made state rep teams (George Zhu, Annalisa Mendham, Sienna Palser), and a multiple Australian, HK and NZ National Champion (Bill Thorley), who was state champion in every state of mainland Australia. At just 16 years of age, Bill was selected to compete at the FINA World Championships where, as the youngest swimmer in the Open Water 5km, he finished only 30 seconds behind the winner. At 18 years of age he qualified for the Tokyo Olympics, where again he was the youngest swimmer in the race, finishing 22nd. The following year he went to his 2nd World Championships in Budapest. Torpedoes was conceived, managed, coached, and administered by Ken and Joey Thorley.

9 years ago today. On the pier at Round Island, half way through an 8km open water swim. Bill, Connor, Temena, Ethan, an...
09/06/2025

9 years ago today. On the pier at Round Island, half way through an 8km open water swim. Bill, Connor, Temena, Ethan, and Sam.

Former Torpedoes Liam, Steph, and Bill at the AISHK Alumni gathering in Brisbane on the weekend, where Bill was the gues...
02/06/2025

Former Torpedoes Liam, Steph, and Bill at the AISHK Alumni gathering in Brisbane on the weekend, where Bill was the guest speaker.

Coach Bill in action at St. Andrews College
07/05/2025

Coach Bill in action at St. Andrews College

After an incredible 8 years at the Noosa club where he went with the goal of making the Olympics and finished up as a cl...
09/04/2025

After an incredible 8 years at the Noosa club where he went with the goal of making the Olympics and finished up as a club coach, Bill is moving on to a new and exciting position as a contracted coach at St Andrews Anglican College.

On this day 10 years ago.
09/03/2025

On this day 10 years ago.

Bill now coaching with the Noosa Swim club.
21/02/2025

Bill now coaching with the Noosa Swim club.

Torpedoes racing in the Sydney Harbour Splash yesterday 💪💪💪
27/01/2025

Torpedoes racing in the Sydney Harbour Splash yesterday 💪💪💪

Well done to the Torpedoes at the Bondi to Bronte swim, braving the 18C water temperature today. 💪💪💪
01/12/2024

Well done to the Torpedoes at the Bondi to Bronte swim, braving the 18C water temperature today. 💪💪💪

08/11/2024

Bill Thorley announced his retirement from competitive swimming after the Asian Championships today. In a stellar career he won State Age titles in every state of Australia, was a multiple Australian Age Champion, a multiple HK Open Champion, went to 4 World Championships, and at Tokyo 2020 became the only male Open Water Olympian HK has produced. Congratulations on your amazing achievements Bill and all the best with the next chapter of your life.

HK Team list for the Asian Championships in 2 weeks includes 2 Torpedoes, with Bill the top-ranked HK swimmer in his las...
30/10/2024

HK Team list for the Asian Championships in 2 weeks includes 2 Torpedoes, with Bill the top-ranked HK swimmer in his last competition.

Bill wrapped up the HK leg of the Open Water World Cup as part of a very good 7th place finish for the HK team in the re...
27/10/2024

Bill wrapped up the HK leg of the Open Water World Cup as part of a very good 7th place finish for the HK team in the relay.

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